Pages past - May 30

On this date ...

1983: New Mexico State Police officers were test driving a specially equipped Ford Mustang to see if it might open the door to Mustangs taking a regular place in the state squad car lineup.

The Associated Press reported that the car, which was marked with state police decals, "hasn't lost its quarry" since it had gone into use in February.

But I. B. Pickett, deputy chief of the NMSP, said there had been some complaints.

"It's hard to carry prisoners in," Pickett said, and also noted, "the trunk is very small - too small to carry much equipment."

On a positive note, Pickett said the Mustang had a top speed "about 20 miles per hour faster than the bigger cars used by the state police."

1973: Clovis Mayor Chick Taylor cut the ribbon on a new S&H green stamp redemption center at 717 Main St. in the Market Square Shopping Center.

S&H stood for the Sperry and Hutchinson Company, which ran one of the first shopper loyalty programs. S&H sold stamps to merchants, who in turn distributed them to customers in accordance with dollars spent at businesses like grocery stores and gas stations.

The stamps were accumulated in booklets and could then be redeemed for merchandise and housewares.

Willie Fern Williams was manager of the Clovis store, and Cloice Gammel and Gladys Heflin were "service hostesses," according to the Clovis News-Journal. Jeff Hartman was in charge of the stock room.

"The décor of the store depicts an Early American Theme," the newspaper reported. Those who attended the ribbon cutting received 100 green stamps for being there.

Pages Past is compiled by Betty Williamson. Contact her at: [email protected]